My Arrow Story

Here is my original arrow story that was planned to go into our Christmas newsletter. I receive a wonderful magazine called "Above Rubies". They put out an email occasionally with updates. This last email had a link to someone starting a quiverfull blogroll. Although I don't write about it here, that is the lifestyle (well part of our lifestyle) that Jerry and I live. The idea is that the Lord opens and closes the womb. Period. That is the short of it. But I believe the other aspect, like the idea that children are a literal BLESSING should be evident here. Being blessings doesn't mean we don't have our trials, but that doesn't mean they are anything less than what the Lord proclaims them to be, blessings. Anyways.....I am putting up my story here now, and will hopefully be able to get the "code" for the blogroll. Hopefully I can figure out how to put it up!
The story was also a way to tell our good news of our newest blessing, I left the whole letter in tact.

Arrow Story


I would like to take the time to help explain our convictions on children. This is just to share with you why we think the way we do about children. This is not to try to get any one to believe as we do, or to judge anyone for their way of thinking. I just wanted to make that clear as I know many times a person’s intentions do not come across as clear in the written word. At least my words don’t! Everyone has a worldview. That worldview is based on many things. Jerry and I strive to take our view of the world by seeing what God has to say about each matter in the Bible. We are obviously fallen creatures and so therefore we strive, but we certainly flounder and fail much of the time. Psalm 127 likens children to arrows. It states that a man whose quiver is full of them is blessed. Now there are many Biblical scholars who can do amazing word studies on exactly how big a quiver is, and when it would be considered full. However I am a much more practical person. Ask Jerry, he can tell you: for my birthday I would take a new mixer over a gold necklace any day. So I give you this little illustration on my take of the arrow passage. It first must be noted that this life we live is more than physical, but also spiritual. And the Bible makes it clear that we are in a spiritual battle. And so with this backdrop, I find myself in front of the arrow distributor for the ‘troops’…

Arrow man (AM): Here ya go, a nice new arrow for ya.
Me: Um, aren’t I going to need more than one? We are headed into a battle are we not?
AM: Oh, yes, if you insist, here you go another arrow.
Me: Could I please have more?
AM: Ahhh, so you are in the “Three is the new two, crowd, are ya?”
Me: I’ve not heard of such a crowd, I’m in the “We are going into battle, and I plan on making it home alive crowd.”
AM: Suite yourself, here’s another one.
Me: [Just standing there looking at the Arrow man]
AM: What? You want more? You know these arrows take money. They need cleaning and fixing and other supplies to upkeep them. Do you know what you’re getting yourself into?
Me: Oh, the Commander has promised us that He will supply all of our needs, so I have no fear in how I will tend to the arrows. I just want as many as I can get.
AM: You will just be weighed down, be at the back of the pack, you won’t be able to do what all the rest of the troops are doing. You’ll be stuck carrying around all those arrows. You’ll be missing out….[He dumps a huge pile of arrows in my outstretched arms]
Me: Well you are right about that, I will be at the back of the pack. It will take time to learn the bent of each arrow. To see what each arrow’s strengths and weaknesses are. I want to make sure to send each arrow off on its flight so that it may reach its intended destination. So for a time I will remain in the back. But after a while, when the other troops’ arrows are gone, shot astray in desperation or carelessness, I will pull ahead. When the attack presses on I will be able to be out front with my well fashioned arrows. And at that given time I don’t think anyone is going to ask me why I have so many arrows. No, at that moment I do believe they will be wishing they had more of their own arrows…….

I hope you enjoyed my little story. It helps ‘explain’ why we think the way we do about children. Then of course there is always Doug Phillip’s great quote: “The Bible calls debt a curse and children a blessing; but in our culture, we apply for a curse and reject blessings. Something is wrong with this picture.”
Again these are our beliefs – it’s what makes us tick. The world around us may think we are strange, but we feel thoroughly blessed. No, that doesn’t mean that each day runs smoothly. It doesn’t mean that each arrow will be free from defects. But we have been given many promises that God will provide the means to raise each arrow for it’s future intended ‘flight path’. It is an immense responsibility, and one we do not take lightly; but it has been worth it. We eagerly anticipate the unveiling of our newest arrow, which should be sometime around June/July! We are all ecstatic. We found out the day after Thanksgiving, and thought we should have to celebrate Thanksgiving all over again. ☺ We will continue to rejoice in each arrow entrusted to us. Thanks be to our gracious God!!!